Insect-repelling beverage receptacle attachment

ABSTRACT

A rubberized food-grade device temporarily attaches to a beverage receptacle, preventing insects from entering the beverage but allowing individuals to drink from the receptacle freely. Different devices are contemplated for attachment to bottles, cans, or drinking glasses and are shaped in novel ways.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/789,518, entitled “Bottle or can attachment to keep insects out,” filed on Jan. 7, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to beverage accessories for use in outdoor recreation activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many warm weather outdoor environments such as Minnesota in summer, the bees, wasps, and other flying insects are attracted to the sweet and aromatic scents of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and aggressively try to get into open beverage cans, bottles or glasses. There are many known cases of individuals being stung in their mouth after inadvertently drinking from an open beverage into which a bee or wasp has entered unnoticed. A temporarily attachable device to prevent insects from entering the bottle, can or glass while still allowing an individual to easily drink from the receptacle is contemplated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device comprised of rubberized food-grade material is contemplated that affixes snugly over the opening of a can, bottle, or glass. The affixed device is perforated in such a way that insects cannot easily enter, but liquid can easily exit. After opening a bottle or can or after pouring a beverage into a glass, the user affixes the device over the receptacle and leaves it in place while drinking through the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1D show perspective views of one embodiment of the device suitable for mounting to a standard beverage bottle;

FIGS. 2A-2B show a standard beverage bottle with and without the embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted;

FIGS. 3A-3D show perspective views of one embodiment of the device suitable for mounting to a standard beverage can;

FIGS. 4A-4B show a standard beverage can with and without the embodiment of FIG. 3 mounted;

FIGS. 5A-5D show perspective views of one embodiment of the device suitable for mounting to a standard pint glass;

FIGS. 6A-6B show a typical pint glass with and without the embodiment of FIG. 5 mounted;

FIGS. 7A-7D show perspective views of a different embodiment of the device suitable for mounting to a standard beverage can;

FIGS. 8A-8B show a standard beverage can with and without the embodiment of FIG. 7 mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The affixable device may be comprised of rugged but soft rubberized food-grade material, allowing it to press into place easily on the can, bottle or drinking glass and remain in place through friction and through tension during use. Silicone rubber may be one such suitable material. Other materials such as ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) may also be suitable. Biodegradable materials such as PLA (polylactic acid) may also have suitable hardness and integrity. The hardness of the material may influence how easily the attachable device presses into place or becomes detached and so different materials or different hardnesses of the same material may be suitable for different applications. That is, it would be expected that a harder material may more easily attach to a softer receptacle (can) than a harder receptacle (bottle). Conversely, a more flexible material may more easily attach to a harder receptacle (bottle) and conform to different spout shapes.

Materials of different hardness and thermal conductivity also affect the sensation when the material touches the user's lips. That is, a very hard material attached to a bottle may provide a sensation more like an actual bottle when the user drinks from it. Similarly, a very thermally conductive material attached to a metal can, which is itself very thermally conductive, may provide a sensation more like drinking from a can. The material comprising the attachable device may therefore be selected to suit the desired touch and temperature sensation that it conveys.

In some embodiments, semi-porous materials may be used that are impregnated with flavor. Flavor impregnation could be accomplished by soaking the device in a liquid concentrate of the flavor or placing the device in a chamber where flavored particles are present as smoke, aerosol, or gas. The flavor instilled in the device's material would then be imparted to liquid that flows over and through the device during normal usage. An example of a known flavor combination would be lime flavoring instilled on a device that is mounted to a bottle or can of beer. The beer would then have a slight lime flavor while drinking it. In other embodiments, to impart flavor to the liquid, a cavity or clip inside or near the spout of the attachable device can hold a flavored wafer or pellet within the region where liquid passes through.

The attachable device should fit snugly over the opening of the can, bottle, or drinking glass so that liquid does not escape from around the edges during drinking. Fabricating the attachable device from flexible material such as silicone rubber enables it to stretch to conform to openings of different sizes and remain well affixed through tension. For example, some standard beverage bottles may have threads into which the bottle cap screws while other bottles may only have a lip if they require a bottle opener to remove the bottle cap—fabricating the affixable device from flexible material allows it to press and fit over either type of lip.

In some embodiments of a bottle-mounted attachable device, the device may be sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the existing threads on the beverage bottle. That is, the cap for the beverage would be unscrewed and the attachable device would be screwed into place where the bottle cap had been. In such an embodiment, a very rigid material may be suitable for the attachable device because the device does not need to conform to a dissimilar shape.

The attachable device has a perforated opening through which liquid flows out as the beverage receptacle is tilted during normal use. The perforated opening is sized so that it is too small for a typical insect such as a bee or wasp to enter into the beverage receptacle.

In one embodiment, the perforated opening could comprise a large hole through which a screen or mesh is placed. The mesh may be comprised of the same material as the device itself, or of different material such as stainless steel wire or stamped metal. The configuration of the mesh holes could be square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal or other suitable configuration. The size of the mesh may be selected based on the competing factors that the mesh should not be so large that an insect can easily enter but the mesh should not be so small that liquid flow is restricted.

Additionally, the mesh size may influence whether carbonated beverages including beer or soda are agitated when liquid flows through the device. When flowing through a tight mesh, such agitation may cause carbonated beverages to foam. Therefore, for use with carbonated beverages, the mesh should be of adequate size that foaming does not occur. In other instances, agitation is desirable, for example, in aerating wine. When agitation is desired, a smaller mesh size may be selected.

In other embodiments, the perforated opening or hole could comprise a plurality of smaller circular or non-circular holes of same or different sizes, or a collection of short tubes of same or different sizes. As with the mesh, hole size may be chosen based on whether agitation of outflowing liquid is desired.

In still other embodiments, the perforated opening or hole could be crossed by a plurality of curved or straight vanes or fins. The size and spacing of the vanes may be chosen based on whether agitation of outflowing liquid is desired. The vanes may be comprised of the same material as the device itself, or of different material such as metal strips.

It may be desirable to insert a drinking straw through the device to allow the beverage to be consumed through the straw while still preventing insects from entering. The vanes may be comprised of flexible material, either the same material as the main body of the device or other material, allowing the vanes to bend and deflect and permitting a straw to pass through the hole if desired.

It may be desirable that the flow of liquid out through the device is laminar instead of turbulent to prevent agitation and foaming. Vanes may be sized and shaped using principles of fluid dynamics so that laminar flow is encouraged by rounding blunt leading edges and avoiding outward (cross-section-enlarging) taper in the direction of flow. Similarly, to encourage turbulent flow, vanes may be sized and shaped so that leading edges are intentionally blunt and outward taper is intentionally designed in the direction of flow.

In some embodiments, a secondary purpose of the device may be to prevent individuals from maliciously inserting drugs or contaminants into a victim's drink. The perforated opening in the attachable device may have perforations sized and shaped so that drug pills do not easily fit through the perforations, limiting the perpetrator's ability to drop the contaminant into a victim's bottle, can, or glass without being noticed.

In some embodiments, the attachable device may retain the same shape as the receptacle. In one such embodiment, an attachable device to be affixed to the spout of a bottle may itself have the appearance of a bottle spout. In such an embodiment for attachment to a bottle, the attachable device causes the bottle to look like and behave like an elongated bottle.

In other embodiments, the attachable device may be dissimilar to the shape of the receptacle and may give a false impression of a different and intentionally novel or humorous shape. In one such embodiment, an attachable device may be in the shape of a bottle spout but attaches to a standard beverage can. In this embodiment the user drinks from a can but feels as though they are drinking from a bottle.

Other embodiments of attachable devices with shapes that are dissimilar to the shape of the receptacle to which they are affixed include but are not limited to the shape of: a child's sippy cup; a wine bottle; a sports bottle; a canteen; a flask; a teakettle spout; a faucet; a drinking fountain; a toilet; a garden hose; a fish; an octopus tentacle; a squid; a snake; a dog head; a cat head; a giraffe head; a bird head; other animal head; animal lips; other animal body part; a banana; a cucumber; a cactus; other vegetable or fruit; a light saber; a gun; other weapon; a human head; a penis; a vagina; a nipple; Human lips; a finger; a hand with one or more fingers extended (e.g., middle finger); other body part (leg, arm, etc.); a car; an airplane; a submarine; a light bulb.

In some embodiments, attachable devices may be combined for sale or usage as a set with each unit in a different color to facilitate identification of which drink belongs to which member of a group. In other embodiments, attachable devices may be emblazoned with different identifiers such as name or number. In other embodiments, attachable devices may have a flattened region on which a name or other identifier can be temporarily written using erasable ink or on which a sticker may be temporarily affixed.

In some embodiments, a tab may be present on the attachable device for fastening a tether, such as a string, to keep the device close by and to prevent loss when opening a new drink receptacle and attaching the device to it. The other end of the tether may be attached to the drink receptacle, to a can or bottle cover (a.k.a. “Koozie”), to the clothing or wrist of the user, or to furniture or other base. The tab may also serve as a leverage point to assist in removing the device from the beverage receptacle when the user is done drinking the beverage.

In other embodiments, a cap may be present at the top of the attachable device to completely close off and stop beverage flow if desired, keeping the beverage fresh and carbonated during storage. In some embodiments, the cap may be a separate piece that is pressed in place or screwed into threads in the top of the attachable device. In other embodiments, the cap may press into the attachable device and may be connected to the attachable device with a hinge or tether. A hinge or tether for the cap could be a “living” hinge or living tether comprised of a thin section of the same material as the main body of the device and cap. In other embodiments, the hinge may be a standard hinge with a pin.

In addition to a cap on top of the attachable device, in some embodiments, a latch may be present to help to keep the cap closed; similarly, the same or different latch can help keep the hinged cap open so that it does not close due to movement or brushing against something.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in one embodiment 100 of the attachable device, the device is sized to fit over the spout of standard glass or plastic beverage bottle. FIG. 1A shows a side view, FIG. 1B shows a rear view, FIG. 1C shows a top view, and FIG. 1D shows an above-rear-side perspective view. The upper portion 101 of the device is in the shape of a typical beverage bottle spout. Vanes 102 prevent insects or other small objects from entering down through the spout although liquid can freely exit around the vanes. A tab 103 is present through which a tether may be attached.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the embodiment 100 of the attachable device is shown mounted on a standard beverage bottle 200. FIG. 2A shows the bottle 200 without device attached; FIG. 2B shows the bottle 200 with device 100 attached.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in one embodiment 300 of the attachable device, the device is sized to fit over the top of a standard metal beverage can. FIG. 3A shows a side view, FIG. 3B shows a rear view, FIG. 3C shows a top view, and FIG. 3D shows a below-rear-side perspective view. Vanes 302 prevent insects or other small objects from entering down through the spout although liquid can freely exit around the vanes. A tab 303 is present through which a tether may be attached. A ridge 304 around the base of the device 300 prevents liquid from escaping at the junction of the device and can.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the embodiment 300 of the attachable device is shown mounted on a standard beverage can 400. FIG. 4A shows the can 400 without device attached; FIG. 4B shows the can 400 with device 300 attached.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in one embodiment 500 of the attachable device, the device is sized to fit over the mouth of a standard pint glass or other drinking glass. FIG. 5A shows a side view, FIG. 5B shows a rear view, FIG. 5C shows a top view, and FIG. 5D shows a below-rear-side perspective view. Vanes 502 prevent insects or other small objects from entering down through the spout although liquid can freely exit around the vanes. A tab 503 is present for facilitating prying the device off of the glass. A ridge 504 around the base of the device 500 prevents liquid from escaping at the junction of the device and drinking glass.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the embodiment 500 of the attachable device is shown mounted on a standard pint glass 600. FIG. 6A shows the pint glass 600 without device attached; FIG. 6B shows the pint glass 600 with device 500 attached.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in one embodiment 700 of the attachable device, the device is sized to fit over the top of a standard beverage can. FIG. 7A shows a side view, FIG. 7B shows a rear view, FIG. 7C shows a top view, and FIG. 7D shows a below-rear-side perspective view. The upper portion 701 of the device is in the shape of a typical beverage bottle spout. Vanes 702 prevent insects or other small objects from entering down through the spout although liquid can freely exit around the vanes. A tab 703 is present through which a tether may be attached. A ridge 704 around the base of the device 700 prevents liquid from escaping at the junction of the device and can.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the embodiment 700 of the attachable device is shown mounted on a standard beverage can 400. FIG. 8A shows the can 400 without device attached; FIG. 8B shows the can 400 with device 700 attached.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments discussed above are non-limiting and could apply to attachable devices of different shapes for attachment to beverage receptacles of different types. It will also be appreciated that one or more features of one embodiment may be partially or fully incorporated into one or more other embodiments described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A snugly fitting attachable device for a beverage receptacle that has: a perforated opening intended to prevent insects from entering the receptacle but allowing liquid to exit the receptacle, said attachable device being temporarily affixed to the beverage receptacle after opening or filling the receptacle.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device affixes to an opened beverage bottle.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device affixes to an opened beverage can.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device affixes to a drinking glass filled with beverage to be consumed.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening comprises curved or straight vanes crossing a hole.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening comprises a mesh crossing a hole.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening comprises a plurality of small holes.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device is comprised of silicone rubber.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device is comprised of flexible plastic such as ABS.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device is comprised of biodegradable material such as PLA.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening is contoured and sized to promote laminar instead of turbulent flow as the beverage exits.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening is contoured and sized to promote turbulent flow instead of laminar flow as the beverage exits.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated opening is shaped and sized to prevent unwanted insertion of drugs or other contaminants into the open beverage.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein a tab is present to attach a tether for securing the attachable device to the user's clothing, the receptacle itself, or other accessory.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein each attachable device in a group of the attachable devices is colored or marked to allow easy identification of each individual's drink.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device has a flattened and/or lightened region on which a name or other identifier may be temporarily marked.
 17. The system of claim 2, wherein the attachable device affixing to a bottle is itself shaped like the spout of a bottle.
 18. The system of claim 3, wherein the attachable device affixes to a can but an extended portion is shaped like the spout of a bottle.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable device has a novel shape representing a recognizable inanimate object, plant, part of a plant, animal, or part of an animal.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein a cap is removably attached to the mouth-side opening of the attachable device to re-seal the beverage receptacle temporarily. 